Chapter 134 Departure
When Xiao Qing returned to the palace, the sky was already as black as ink.
The stars were scattered far and wide. Ma Hong stood at the palace gate waiting for her, and happily came to greet her as soon as he saw her carriage.
In contrast, Xiao Qing was not so happy.
She summarized her day's experience as: "Going out happily, returning to the palace dejected."
It felt like almost nothing that didn't feel "frustrating" happened to her the day after she left Tianyin Temple.
However, it's good that Ma Hong is safe and sound.
Xiao Yan had already returned to the palace. Fu Mingyi did not follow Xiao Qing into the palace. Instead, he bowed respectfully outside the palace gate. After Xiao Qing went inside, the vermilion palace gate slowly closed, and only then did he turn and leave.
Who is behind them?
He couldn't answer the question. Sometimes he felt he could see things very clearly, and other times he felt as if a fog had been shrouded in mist.
Although many of these things were only recently discovered, he felt that perhaps the other party had already begun planning them long ago.
He had suspected people before, but in the past three years, the people he had been keeping a close eye on had not made any moves, while other places had made many mistakes.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Qing was already thirteen years old.
Although he was strict with her in terms of teaching and governing, he rarely taught her about human nature.
He always felt that as long as she trusted him, it wouldn't matter if she was kind and upright; things would take time. It was impossible for someone in this position to remain unchanged.
But too many things have happened recently.
He reached out and rubbed his temples, slowly pondering the power distribution within Nanhua City.
Jiang Tianba is more valuable alive than dead in their hands. He has limited information today, so he needs to think of another way to probe further.
At this moment, Xiao Qing strode into Chengde Palace and walked in with Mingxiu, who was waiting for her to return to the palace.
"This servant heard from Ma Hong that His Majesty was frightened today."
Xiao Qing sat down in her palace and accepted the hot tea that Mingxiu offered. Her heart was already quite at peace because of her conversation with Fu Mingyi along the way.
“Speaking of being frightened, that child was probably more frightened.” She put aside her own worries for the moment and said to Mingxiu, “His family is not doing well. He was so ravaged today. With his small body, he will probably be sick for a few days. Otherwise, send someone out of the palace tomorrow to deliver some things to his family, so that they can at least take care of their current living conditions. Consider it as… calming his nerves.”
Mingxiu smiled and agreed, "Your Majesty is kind-hearted."
Xiao Qing pouted, "Don't even mention it, the Grand Tutor has been acting strangely lately, and today was even worse..."
Seeing her conflicted expression, Mingxiu couldn't help but laugh again.
“Your Majesty, it’s not that Mingxiu is biased. In fact, Your Majesty knows that although the Grand Tutor is sometimes a bit strict, he is still doing it for Your Majesty’s good. Why should Your Majesty argue with the Grand Tutor?”
"When did I ever argue with him? His tongue is so sharp, he could debate with a group of scholars. How could I possibly win against him!"
Mingxiu smiled.
"And why today?"
Xiao Qing's eyes darted around. "I told you, you can't tell Zhao Youchen."
Mingxiu blushed. "What did Your Majesty say?!"
Xiao Qing covered her mouth and laughed, "Still embarrassed? I saw it all last time, you were secretly watching in the garden..."
"His Majesty!"
"Okay, okay, I'm not going to say anymore. Honestly, I didn't object."
Xiao Qing muttered something to himself, then asked seriously, "What do you think of the relationship between the Grand Tutor and Zhao Youchen?"
"Of course that's good."
Xiao Qing nodded. "I think so too. So, Grand Tutor, was this really just an example you gave me to teach me?"
She remained silent for a long time, and Mingxiu, knowing her place, did not ask any further questions.
After a while, Mingxiu saw that his emperor was still in a daze, so he said softly, "The Grand Tutor's words and actions are all reasonable. Your Majesty should listen to the Grand Tutor's words more."
"Even if he speaks ill of Zhao Youchen, you still think so?"
Mingxiu thought for a moment and said, "Humans eat five grains and six rice, how can they be without any flaws? Zhao Youchen has good points, and naturally he has bad points. Even someone like the Grand Tutor, who seems perfect, still has a lot of complaints about him. So, even if he criticizes General Zhao, it doesn't mean that what he says is wrong or that we shouldn't listen to him."
Mingxiu sighed, "A few days ago, I don't know where the rumor came from, that General Zhao sometimes goes straight to sleep after night watch and doesn't realize until the morning that he hasn't even taken his shoes off. I was wondering if General Zhao has smelly feet..."
Xiao Qing laughed heartily and hugged Mingxiu tightly, saying, "Xiu, my Xiu~ What would I do without you~"
Mingxiu smiled and gently stroked Xiao Qing's hair, saying softly, "Your Majesty works too hard every day. It's already late today. I'll go get Your Majesty some porridge. Have some, take a good bath, and then go to bed early. Think about your worries tomorrow."
Xiao Qing nodded fiercely, "Xiu is good this way, I will not want to let you go. You idiot. Also, as I said, when it's just the two of us, don't use that 'Your Majesty' stuff, we're tired of hearing it every day."
Mingxiu pushed her head away without hesitation, saying, "Who said I was leaving?" She then went to get porridge for Xiao Qing.
However, after eating the porridge and taking a relaxing bath, Xiao Qing was just about to fall asleep when she suddenly woke up.
She quickly put on her clothes, walked to the window, gently pushed it open, and whispered, "Mr. Wu?"
A dark shadow appeared by the window.
Xiao Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
I knew it! Mr. Wu was leaving, how could he not come to say goodbye? After all, they had a teacher-student relationship for three years.
"The Grand Tutor said that Mr. Wu will be gone for a long time this time."
Mr. Wu was silent for a moment before saying, "Go to the North."
Xiao Qing understood; they needed to cross the Xiao River.
She considered her words for a moment and said, "Mr. Wu is highly skilled, but you should still be careful on your journey to this land of wolves and jackals."
She paused, then added, "If Mr. Wu were to return, I would gladly host a welcome feast for him."
Mr. Wu seemed to chuckle softly.
Xiao Qing didn't understand what Mr. Wu meant by laughing. Just as she was about to say something more, she noticed that the shadow had disappeared without her noticing.
Mr. Wu has passed away.
Xiao Qing felt lost and stood by the window for a while, hugging her arms, until she felt her hands and feet were freezing cold. Only then did she run to her warm bed.
Ah, that's the downside of being an emperor; you have to use the best of everything.
It is said that it is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.
After she leaves the palace, how long will it take her to adjust to life without Mingxiu and without her high standards of living...?
Meanwhile, in the Grand Tutor's residence, Fu Mingyi walked from the study into the secret room, gently adjusted the lamp wick on the table in the secret room, and looked down at a letter that had been secretly sent from Ping'an City in the north.
Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person. Three years have passed since we last met, and everything and everyone has changed...
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